Councillor questions Lismore's $30,000 spend on monument

LISMORE councillor Gianpiero Battista has questioned the need for council to spend $30,000 on a monument when Goonellabah library remains under threat.

Lismore councillor Gianpiero Battista. Picture: The Northern Star

LISMORE councillor Gianpiero Battista has questioned the need for council to spend $30,000 on a monument to its sister city relationship with Yamato Takada.

He posted on his Facebook page on Monday night "this must be better than keeping the library open on Sunday".

When we contacted Mr Battista, he went on to say "it is important to celebrate it (the relationship), but I think a plaque would be enough".

"It's ludicrous to say we (council) have to save money left, right and centre and then spend $30,000 on a monument."

Mr Battista said the money was allocated in the 2012/13 budget by the previous council (of which he was a member), but there had been a $10 million variation to the budget since then.

"If we knew back then there was going to be a $10 million variation we may not have included (this) $30,000 expenditure."

A spokesperson for Lismore Council said the project was already under way and there would be no revision of the expenditure at this stage.

"This is a significant and important monument to the first-ever sister city relationship between Australia and Japan. It was an Australian first in terms of reconciliation between two nations that were once at war."

Prime Minister Julia Gillard referred to Lismore's relationship with Yamato Takada in a speech last November about Australia's position in the "Asian century".

"The Australia of 1963 was a different place, with a very different view of Asia and to reach out the hand of friendship, as the Mayor of Lismore did, was both far-sighted and brave. It was an example we can be proud that so many Australian towns have followed," Ms Gillard said.

The monument will be unveiled on August 7.